Between Myth and Belief

In 1903, something strange came to Van Meter, Iowa.
For several nights, townspeople reported mysterious lights moving across rooftops, a huge winged creature with a glowing light on its forehead, enormous three-toed tracks, and a smell powerful enough to leave one witness disoriented. Naturally, the people of Van Meter responded by shooting at it. A lot.
This week on Between Myth and Belief, Beth and Michelle dig into the story of the Van Meter Visitor, one of Iowa’s strangest cryptid legends. We look at the original 1903 newspaper reports, the real people named as witnesses, the abandoned coal mine at the center of the story, and how a strange light eventually became an eight-foot, featherless, apparently bulletproof creature.
Was it a large bird seen under terrible conditions? Mine gas and hallucinations? A hoax amplified by sensational journalism? An unknown animal? Something much stranger?
And just how many armed men does it take before Iowa officially declares war on zoology?
We separate what we can actually trace to 1903 from what the legend became later and explore the space where eyewitness testimony, folklore, skepticism, and belief all start stepping on each other’s toes.
Welcome to Van Meter. Mind the glowing bird thing.
The Calendar of the Weird:
September 6 through the 19th
Astrological & Astronomical Alignments
September 9: September ε-Perseid Meteor Shower Peak
Nature: Astronomical / Astrological
Details: A minor, active meteor shower peaking on September 9. Darker skies surround this year's peak due to the nearby New Moon, creating ideal viewing conditions.
September 10: The "Portal Day" Convergence
Nature: Astrological
Details: A sequence of major astrological transits occurs within hours of each other: the New Moon in Virgo takes place, Venus enters Scorpio, Mercury enters Libra, and Uranus stations Retrograde in Gemini. This major convergence closes the late-summer eclipse portal.
September 11: New Moon in Virgo
Nature: Astrological / Lunar Cycle
Details: Reaches exact phase at 05:27 UTC. Historically associated with cleansing traditions, resetting daily habits, and grounding rituals.
September 14: Venus-Moon Conjunction
Nature: Astronomical / Astrological
Details: Venus appears extraordinarily bright alongside a thin crescent moon in the western sky.
September 17: Chiron Retrograde Re-enters Aries
Nature: Astrological
Details: Chiron ("the Wounded Healer") transitions back into Aries, initiating a key astrological focus on identity and instinctual resolution.
September 18: First Quarter Moon
Nature: Lunar Phase
Details: Reaches exact phase at 22:43 UTC, bringing increasing lunar brightness in the build-up to the autumn equinox.
Paranormal, Cryptid & Metaphysical Conventions
September 9–12: PhenomeCon 2026 (Vernal, Utah)
Nature: Paranormal & UAP Gathering
Details: Located near Skinwalker Ranch, this convention brings together researchers and enthusiasts discussing Skinwalker Ranch anomalies, alien encounters, cryptids, and ghost hunting.
September 12–13: SoulSearch Enlightenment Expo (Las Vegas, Nevada)
Nature: Metaphysical Expo
Details: A weekend gathering featuring psychics, mediums, astrologers, energy healers, and live spiritual channeling events at Palace Station.
September 18–20: Upstate Renaissance & Folklore Faire (South Carolina)
Nature: Metaphysical & Historical Lore
Details: Regional event focusing on medieval lore, fairy mythologies, and historic folk magic traditions.
September 19–20: Mothman Festival (Point Pleasant, West Virginia)
Nature: Cryptid & Paranormal Festival
Details: The world's largest gathering celebrating the legendary West Virginia cryptid, featuring guest speakers, paranormal investigators, live music, and tours of the local TNT area.
Supernatural, Haunted & Cultural Folk Traditions
September 11–November 1: SCARowinds Opens (Charlotte, North Carolina)
Nature: Haunted Attraction
Details: SCARowinds launches its season-opening weekend, featuring paranormal-investigator-themed mazes, theatrical horror, and dark folklore performances.
September 14: Hartalika Teej & Ganesh Chaturthi
Nature: Sacred & Supernatural Traditions
Details: Observed globally across Hindu traditions. Features intense nocturnal vigils, fasting, and invocation rituals dedicated to Shiva, Parvati, and the manifestation of Lord Ganesha.
 
Sounds used: 
Iowa Tree Insect 30s..mp3 by john9 -- https://freesound.org/s/215176/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

What do you do when a disease is killing your family, medicine has no answers, and your neighbors are convinced the dead are responsible?
This week on Between Myth and Belief, we dig into the New England Vampire Panic, a strange and deeply human chapter of American folklore born from fear, grief, and the devastating spread of tuberculosis, then known as consumption.
We talk about the exhumations, burned hearts and organs, desperate folk remedies, and the belief that dead family members could somehow drain the life from those still living. Along the way, we visit some of the most infamous cases, including Mercy Brown, Frederick Ransom, Rachel Harris Burton, and the mysterious grave of “JB,” whose remains were found rearranged in a skull-and-crossbones pattern.
There were no vampires, but there were frightened communities trying to make sense of a disease they could not see or understand. Somewhere between folklore, medicine, religion, and mass hysteria, the dead became the scapegoats.
Also, a small but important piece of advice from us: please do not drink the ashes.
Join us as we explore the history, folklore, and very real tragedy behind The New England Vampire Panic.
 
Sound Effect by Aman Kumar from Pixabay 
Sound Effect by Subhasis Mandal from Pixabay 
Sound Effect by Universfield from Pixabay

Meet the Nuckelavee: Orkney folklore's most relentless water horse, a fused horse-and-rider with no skin, a single burning red eye, and breath that poisons crops and livestock. Unlike the Kelpie or the Each-uisge, there's no taming this one, no trick, no deal. Just one rule that might save your life: never let it catch you between salt water and fresh.
This episode traces the Nuckelavee back to Walter Traill Dennison's 1891 folklore collection, unpacks its ties to the Norse spirits Mither o' the Sea and Teran, and digs into why a culture surviving on thin soil and thinner margins needed a monster with "unmixed malignity" instead of one you could reason with. Along the way: the naming taboo that kept islanders from saying its name out loud, the real economic collapse hiding inside the story, and what a 19th-century Orcadian cautionary tale still has to teach us about fear, boundaries, and knowing your own exit.
Skeptical, not dismissive. Salt on one side, fresh on the other. Never get caught in between.
Calendar of the Weird:
August 9–11: The Waning Dark & Veil Thinning
The moon slimmers into its final waning crescent before the blackout, marking a prime window for banishing rituals, ghost hunting, and dreamwork.
 TimeAndDate - Night Sky & Cosmic Calendar
August 12: The Great Cosmic Convergence (Total Solar Eclipse + Dark New Moon + 6-Planet Parade)
A monumental celestial trifecta: A Total Solar Eclipse paths across Greenland, Iceland, and Spain, while six planets (Mercury, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, and Neptune) line up pre-dawn.Astrologically, a Leo South Node eclipse signals a intense reset point for power dynamics and shadow work.
 NASA Science - Total Solar Eclipse August 12, 2026
 Star Walk - August 12 Triple Celestial Alignment Guide
August 12–13 (Overnight): Peak Perseid Meteor Shower under Zero-Moon Skies
Because of the dark New Moon eclipse, night skies are pitch black—creating optimal conditions to watch up to 100 shooting stars per hour. Celestial fire magic at its finest.
 Farmer's Almanac - Perseid Meteor Shower 2026 Guide
August 15: Conjunction of Jupiter & Mercury + Heliacal Rising of Sirius
Mercury and Jupiter align in the sky while the ancient portal star Sirius makes its heliacal rising at dawn—historically tied in occult traditions to high spiritual energy and Lion's Gate integration.
 In-The-Sky.org - Planetary Conjunctions
August 17: National Black Cat Appreciation Day
A day dedicated to dispelling old superstitious stigmas around black cats, familiar spirits, and witchcraft history.
 National Today - Black Cat Appreciation Day
August 18: National Bad Poetry Day (Vogon & Hex Edition)
Celebrate the supernatural power of terrible rhymes—write a cursed poem or intentionally awful spell.
 Holiday Insights - Bad Poetry Day
August 20: First Quarter Moon (Intuition & Psychic Activation)
The moon reaches its First Quarter phase, building intense energy as the cosmos moves toward late-August. Ideal for tarot, divination, and psychic readings.
 NASA - Moon Phase Calendar
August 22: Southern Hemisphere Hoodie-Hoo Day & Spirit Banishing
Step outside at noon local time, throw your hands up in the air, and yell "HOODIE-HOO!" to banish lingering bad vibes, winter funk, and unwanted house haunts.
 AnydayGuide - Hoodie-Hoo Day Traditions
 
Sound Attributions:
Spooky scottish night.wav by inchadney -- https://freesound.org/s/399561/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0
Moan.wav by GoodListener -- https://freesound.org/s/322444/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

On May 22, 2011, an EF5 tornado tore through Joplin, Missouri, killing 158 people in one of the deadliest storms in modern American history. In the aftermath, something strange surfaced, child survivors across the town began describing the same figure: a tall, human-like being with enormous butterfly wings who appeared in the worst moments of the storm, shielding them from debris and standing between them and collapsing buildings. This week, Beth and Michelle dig into the legend of the Butterfly People of Joplin, where it came from, why butterfly wings instead of the usual angel iconography, and what psychology, trauma, and Bible Belt folklore might have to say about it. As always, we land somewhere between myth and belief.
Calendar of the Weird:
Essex Witches & Pagans Lammas Festival
Dates: August 1, 2026
Location: Chelmsford, Essex, United Kingdom (Galleywood Heritage Centre)
Details: Celebrates the first harvest of the Celtic Wheel with a witchy market, spiritual readings, community workshops, and open rituals.
Link: Earth Spirit Events
Lughnasadh Rite at White Mountain Druid Sanctuary
Dates: August 1, 2026
Location: Trout Lake, Washington, USA (Trout Lake Abbey)
Details: An outdoor Irish pantheon rite honoring the god Lugh Samildanach and the Lady of the White Salmon at the sanctuary's stone circle, preceded by a community potluck.
Link: White Mountain Druids
Lughnasadh Art & Music Festival
Dates: August 1, 2026
Location: Newport-on-Tay, Fife, Scotland (Forgan Arts Centre)
Details: Marks the turning of the Celtic Wheel through live Scottish music, workshops, and traditional harvest art installations.
Link: Scottish Contemporary Art Network
20th Annual Vancouver Island Pagan Pride Day
Dates: August 8, 2026
Location: Campbell River, British Columbia, Canada
Details: Community gathering featuring public rituals, educational workshops, and information tables centered around the four elements.
Link: Campbell River Mirror Event Overview
New Orleans Paracon
Dates: July 31 – August 2, 2026
Location: New Orleans, Louisiana, USA (Crowne Plaza French Quarter)
Details: Focuses on French Quarter haunted history, voodoo traditions, and local vampire lore, featuring guest speakers, ghost hunts, and educational workshops.
Link: New Orleans Paracon Official Site
Deep South Para-comi-con
Dates: August 8 – 9, 2026
Location: Enterprise, Alabama, USA
Details: A hybrid convention blending paranormal investigation panels, local ghost lore, horror culture, and metaphysical vendors.
Link: Ghosts & Getaways Event Listing
The Legendary Llangollen Faery Festival
Dates: August 8 – 9, 2026
Location: Llangollen, Wales, United Kingdom
Details: A weekend celebration steeped in Celtic fairy folklore, artisan crafts, storytelling, and music.
Link: Moondragon UK Festival Guide
 
 
Tornado Sirens - Tulsa by Filmscore -- https://freesound.org/s/515695/ -- License: Creative Commons 0
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

In the late 1980s, a photocopied brochure started circulating through coffee shops, bulletin board systems, and fax machines. It described a research commune hidden in the New Jersey Pine Barrens, a homemade machine called the Egg, and a doorway to a parallel Earth with no people on it. This week Beth and Michelle dig into Ong's Hat, the true ghost town turned collaborative fiction that became one of the earliest alternate reality games on the internet. They trace the story from a real 1700s land grant through Princeton dropouts, an anarchist ashram, forbidden physics, and a decades-long hoax that its own creator never fully admitted to. Along the way, Beth makes the case for why a story doesn't need to be true to still work like a spell, and why belief itself might be the real gate.
The Calendar of the Weird for July 12th through the 25th:
Keep up with the strange, the spooky, and the unexplained happening across the country over the next two weeks! Here’s where you can find the weirdness:
July 13 — Embrace Your Geekness Day: A global holiday dedicated to letting your inner nerd fly free—whether that's cryptids, UFOs, or local folklore.
July 14 — Pandemonium Day: A day celebrating wild, unexpected chaos. Perfect for looking into unpredictable high-strangeness!
July 17 – 19, 2026 — Days of the Dead Indianapolis: A massive weekend celebrating horror, macabre pop culture, and all things spooky at the Indianapolis Marriott East.
Link: HorrorCons Event Calendar
July 20 — Space Exploration Day: Celebrating humanity's journeys into the cosmos—and keeping our eyes wide open for whatever might be looking back at us.
July 25, 2026 — The 8th Annual Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Conference: The massive single-day gathering at the Gatlinburg Convention Center in Tennessee. Meet leading researchers, browse cryptid gear, and listen to real eyewitness accounts.
Link: Smoky Mountain Bigfoot Conference Details
July 25 – 26, 2026 — Coastal Haunts Paracon: A community-focused paranormal convention in Brunswick, Georgia, at the Center for the Arts. Features paranormal teams, mediums, and TikTok's "Paranormal Princess," Haylee Michelle.
Link: Coastal Haunts Paracon Info
 
Sounds Used: 
Mysterious Radio Signal by olliegw -- https://freesound.org/s/792398/ -- License: Attribution NonCommercial 4.0
Music by https://pixabay.com/users/universfield-28281460/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=161660" Universfield from https://pixabay.com/music//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=161660 Pixabay

They live in the sea as seals. On land, they pass as human. And if someone steals the skin they shed on shore, they can never go home.
Selkies are one of the oldest and most quietly heartbreaking figures in Celtic and Norse folklore. Creatures who ask almost nothing of the people around them, and are betrayed anyway. In this episode, Beth and Michelle explore the selkie legends of Scotland, the Shetland Islands, and the remote cliffs of the Faroe Islands: where these stories came from, what they were really trying to say, and why they hit differently now than they probably should.
They dig into the documented folklore and the possible real-world origins, including the Inuit and Sami people whose sealskin kayaks and parkas may have done more worldbuilding than any storyteller intended. They cover the man who stabbed a selkie king, the otter king who showed up when it mattered, the Faroese women who chose the sea over the children they loved, and the Scottish clan that traces its webbed fingers back to a fisherman's marriage.
Also discussed: the fragile nature of choice, duality as a way of life, the longing that never quite goes away, and why Michelle is officially breaking up with Mothman live on air.
Calendar of the Weird for June 28 through July 11 
Cryptid & Paranormal Events
The Lizard Man Stomp Date: Saturday, June 28, 2026 | 10 AM – 2 PM Location: Downtown Main Street, Bishopville, SC What it is: South Carolina's beloved annual festival celebrating the Lizard Man of Scape Ore Swamp -- the 8-foot, red-eyed, three-toed swamp creature first sighted in June 1988. Expect a parade down Main Street, live music, arts and crafts vendors, a car show, kids' games, face painting, food trucks, and of course, the Lizard Man himself available for photos. A free, family-friendly community event that keeps the legend alive. https://www.facebook.com/LIZARDMANSTOMP/
Hodag Heritage Festival Date: July 9-12, 2026 (Heritage Festival runs alongside Hodag Country Fest week) Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin What it is: Rhinelander celebrates its legendary local cryptid -- the Hodag, a fearsome horned beast said to haunt the Northwoods -- with a day of folklore, community, and creature lore. Features a traditional pancake breakfast, the beloved Hodag Calling Contest, live music, a Hodag Historical City Bus Tour, cryptid speakers, and more. A deeply local tradition that has made this beast Rhinelander's identity for over a century. https://www.rhinelanderchamber.com/hodagheritagefestival/
Sacred Days & Observances
June 29 -- Full Strawberry Moon in Capricorn The last of the summer's early moons, named by Indigenous traditions for the ripening of wild strawberries. In Capricorn, this is a moon that rewards focus and ambition -- a grounded full moon energy perfect for taking stock of what you've built so far this year.
July 4 -- Independence Day / Day of Pax Celebrated by patriotic American Wiccans as a day to honor Lady Liberty and perform workings for peace and the wellbeing of the land. In ancient Rome, this date also honored Pax, goddess of peace and harmony -- making it a layered day of fire, freedom, and intention.
July 6 -- Day of the Horned Goddesses An ancient Pagan observance honoring all horned goddesses across traditions: Hathor, Hera, Isis, Juno, Selene, and more. Also the opening day of the San Fermin Festival in Pamplona, Spain -- yes, that includes the Running of the Bulls, which carries its own deep mythological weight around the sacred bull as a symbol of fertility and divine masculine power.
July 7 -- Tanabata (Star Festival) Date: July 7, 2026 Location: Japan (and celebrated by Japanese communities worldwide) What it is: One of Japan's five traditional seasonal festivals, Tanabata celebrates the one night each year when the star-crossed celestial lovers Orihime (the star Vega) and Hikoboshi (the star Altair) are allowed to cross the Milky Way and reunite. Rooted in a Chinese myth brought to Japan in the 8th century, the tradition involves writing wishes on small strips of colorful paper called tanzaku and hanging them on bamboo branches. A festival of longing, starlight, and love against all odds. https://nationaltoday.com/tanabata/
July 9 -- Panathenaea (Ancient Greek) Every four years in ancient Athens, a six-day festival began on this date in honor of Athena, goddess of wisdom and craft. Also traditionally celebrated as the divine birthday of Dionysus, god of wine, ecstasy, and transformation.
July 10 -- Day of Holda A day honoring Holda (also known as Hulda or Holle), the ancient Germanic and Norse goddess of the underworld, winter, spinning, and the hidden order beneath the earth. Marked with candles, offerings of rose petals, and prayers to the keeper of the dead.
July 14 -- New Moon in Cancer The dark of the moon in Cancer -- a watery, introspective new moon perfect for intention-setting around home, ancestry, and emotional healing. Cancer energy invites us inward before the sun moves on.
In the Sky This Fortnight
June 29 -- Full Strawberry Moon in Capricorn July 5 -- Earth reaches Aphelion (its farthest point from the Sun in its orbit) July 14 -- New Moon in Cancer
Events & Festivals
15th Annual WitchsFest USA -- Ye Olde Pagan Street Faire Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026 | 10 AM – 5 PM Location: Astor Place (between Broadway & Lafayette Streets), New York City -- FREE to attend What it is: New York City's beloved outdoor pagan street fair, hosted by the NYC Wiccan Family Temple. Now in its 15th year, WitchsFest USA brings together witches, pagans, druids, hoodoo practitioners, Santeria communities, and seekers of all paths for a day of live performances, workshops, a psychic court, magical vendors, a silent auction, and a summer blessing ritual -- all on the streets of the East Village. Benefits Feed America, City Harvest, and St. Jude Children's Hospital. https://witchsfestusa.org/
 
Attributions: 
160904 seals at low tide.WAV by Bluesy1905 -- https://freesound.org/s/353439/ -- License: Attribution 3.0
Music by https://pixabay.com/users/echonn-30541699/?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=220954 Szymon Jasiński from https://pixabay.com//?utm_source=link-attribution&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=music&utm_content=220954 Pixabay

In the highlands of southern France, something was hunting people. For three years, from 1764 to 1767, La Bête du Gévaudan killed over a hundred men, women, and children across 700 square miles of rugged countryside, embarrassed the royal court of King Louis XV, and launched one of the largest coordinated hunts in French history. Soldiers failed. Professional wolf hunters failed. The king's own gun bearer declared it finished and went home. The attacks resumed two months later.
But inside the terror were the people. A 19-year-old servant girl named Marie-Jeanne who stood her ground on a riverbank and drove a spear into the creature's chest. A 10-year-old boy who organized his friends and charged the beast with sticks. A royal court that rewarded the boy and gave the girl nothing. Not for 230 years anyway.
Join Beth and Michelle as they dig into the historical record, the werewolf folklore, the silver bullet origin story you didn't know you knew, and the very human question of what we turn our monsters into when the truth won't hold still.
Whatever the Beast of Gévaudan was, it left 113 confirmed dead behind. And a mystery that France never fully solved.
Links to Events: Silver's Stones Magical Psychic Fair | June 14th, 2026 Silver's Stones Magical Psychic Fair on Saturday, June 14thfrom 11 AM to 4 PM in Elizabeth, PA
Strange and sacred market event in June 2026 | Seneca, SC The Strange Dark and Mysterious Market 2026! Sunday, June 14th
Magic, Witchcraft and Nature Conference
Dates: June 24–26, 2026
Location: York, UK (York St John University) & Online
Dreamers, Witches & Mystics Virtual Summit
Dates: June 26–28, 2026
Location: Online / Zoom
Witches' Magick Market - Solstice Spell Market
Dates: June 20, 2026
Location: UNEARTHED, Glendale, California, USA
Witchy Workshop - Tarot with Cats
Dates: Friday, June 26, 2026 | 5:30 PM
Location: House of Black Cat Magic, Asheville, NC
June 15 – New Moon in Gemini: Seed intentions for communication, curiosity, and mental agility as the twins’ quicksilver energy opens new pathways of expression.
June 20-21 Litha (summer solstice) northern hemisphere
June 23 – Day of the Lady & Lord of the Sidhe: A modern neopagan observance honoring the Fae and the otherworldly aspects of the divine.
June 24 – Day of Household Deities: A modern devotional practice for cleansing and rededicating altars or household shrines, honoring the protective spirits of the home.
June 29 – Full Strawberry Moon in Capricorn: A moon of adventure, truth-seeking, and seasonal abundance.
 
Sounds used: 
Wolf run.wav by sabotovat -- https://freesound.org/s/414350/ -- License: Attribution 3.0
Moutons_Chateau_Matin by nicotep -- https://freesound.org/s/809220/ -- License: Creative Commons 0

Before ghost hunting was a TV staple, Dr. Nandor Fodor was already doing it weirder and smarter than anyone else. In this episode we dig into the strange career of the paranormal investigator almost nobody talks about. From the Thornton Heath poltergeist to his most infamous case: a talking mongoose on the Isle of Man named Jeff who claimed to be born in New Delhi in 1852. Fodor's wild theory that poltergeists are manifestations of repressed trauma put him at odds with spiritualists, got him fired, and inspired more than a few lawsuits, but it also shaped how we think about the paranormal to this day. 
Calendar of the Weird:
New Jersey's 4th Annual Cryptids and Paranormal Conference
Date: June 6, 2026
Location: Plainsboro, New Jersey, USA (Crowne Plaza Princeton Conference Center)
What it is: A rapidly growing East Coast hotspot for fans of hidden zoology and local lore. This gathering features extensive deep dives, presentations, and panel discussions focusing on regional cryptids (including Jersey Devil theories), unexplained regional phenomena, and local paranormal investigative data.
Link: NJ Cryptids & Paranormal Conference Tickets via Eventbrite
Traditional Northern Hemisphere Litha / Midsummer Preparations
Dates: Ongoing throughout early June (Culminating June 21, 2026)
Location: Global / Stonehenge, Wiltshire, UK
What it is: While the exact astronomical Summer Solstice lands on June 21, the opening week of June marks the traditional beginning of localized Pagan and Druidic gatherings across Europe. Pagan communities begin setting up sacred spaces, building communal bonfires, and preparing for the high-energy solar alignment celebrations marking the peak of the Sun God's power.
Link: Pagan Wheel of the Year Context via Tripr Travel
 
 
R4_00597_EXP01_Horror_atmosphere by kevp888 -- https://freesound.org/s/759670/ -- License: Attribution 4.0

This week, Michelle and Beth dig into one of the strangest, saddest, and most compelling folk traditions ever pulled from a forgotten archive box: the Benandanti of Friuli, Italy. Born into a calling, dispatched four times a year in spirit form to wage plant-based warfare in the fields, fiercely proud of who they were — until the Inquisition spent a century grinding that pride into confession. We trace their roots from the crossroads culture of northeastern Italy all the way to the Wild Hunt, Livonian werewolves, and a pan-European shamanistic pattern that historian Carlo Ginzburg spent decades trying to prove. Plus: the amniotic sac as a lucky charm, why fennel beats sorghum, and what it means when an institution can't tolerate something it simply can't categorize.
It's not just folklore. It's a gaslit identity. And it almost disappeared completely.
📚 Resources from this episode:
The Night Battles by Carlo Ginzburg — The book that started it all. Absolutely worth your time.
Ecstasies: Deciphering the Witches' Sabbath by Carlo Ginzburg — Ginzburg's follow-up and the deeper rabbit hole on the pan-European shamanic substrate.
The Wild Hunt — Encyclopedia Britannica — A solid entry point into the broader tradition.
European Shamanism and Folkloric Spirit Flight — Folklore Studies overview, JSTOR — For the academically inclined among you.
The Inquisition and Witch Trials  — Broader context for the institutional machinery at work in this episode.
Luna Nera on Netflix — The fictional take. Not historically accurate, but atmospheric.
🗓️ Upcoming Events (May 17–24):
Paranormal & Supernatural
PennHurst Paracon & Oddities Expo — May 16–17, Spring City, PA
Texas Frightmare Weekend — May 22–24, Irving, TX
Quantum-Con 4 — May 15–17, Plymouth, MN
Pagan & Esoteric
Sussex Faerie Festival — May 15–17, Alfriston, East Sussex, UK
Welsh Occult Conference — May 16, Welshpool, Wales
Rites of Spring — May 20–25, Western Massachusetts (and online)
Sacred Days & Observances
May 17 — Maple Ceremony (Haudenosaunee): Honoring the maple as the first gift of the year from the earth.
May 19 — Festival of Adonia: Women's mourning rites for Adonis, consort of Aphrodite.
May 20 — Frigga Blót (Norse): Honor the All-Mother. Light the hearth.
May 20 — Sun enters Gemini: Start talking more. You won't be able to help it.
May 22 — International Selkie Day: The hidden folk are watching from the water.
May 23 — Vulcania (Roman): Fire, smithing, and the creative destruction of flame.
May 24 — Feast of Sekhmet (Kemetic): The lion-headed protector, invoked for warding and healing.
In the Sky
Now through May 30 — Waxing Moon: Prime time for growth and manifestation work.
May 31 — Full Blue Moon: Mark your calendars.

What are dreams, really? Science says your brain is filing memories and simulating threats. Psychology points to the subconscious doing its messy work. Metaphysics suggests something far stranger, that it’s a doorway to other realms, other versions of yourself you can only half-remember come morning.
This week, Michelle and Beth float through the dreamscape: shared dreams that two people experience without knowing it, precognitive dreams that reach into a future you weren't supposed to know yet, and the dream locations your sleeping mind returns to that you've never visited while awake. They share their own precog dreams, including one born in the desert during wartime and one that foretold a tragedy before it happened and ask the question every vivid dreamer eventually faces: is it memory, the mind processing what it can't face in daylight, or something else entirely?